Flower crab mating process

[Tyguy35]

I have a boy and a girl flower crab and she was just pregnant and dropped her eggsnow the male crab is on top her holding her claws and legs with his. Not belly to belly. Is this a mating process. They won't seperate it's weird.

[Trichopsis]

It's likely. Did the female just moult?

Flower crabs can assume quite a variety of positions during courtship and mating.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2704968709/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/427821973/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/4734809909/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/6474757179/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/6474757179/

[Tyguy35]

No but she just released eggs last week. She has looked like she's ready to molt but the male has her on lock down oh by the way it's sesarma intermedium flower the orange one.

[Trichopsis]

Haha oops, I only knew about one other type of flower crab (Portunus pelagicus), so that was the first thing that came to mind.

And yes, sometimes male crabs will seize the female and wait until she finally moults; this is the only time when her shell is soft enough for the necessary mating to take place.

[des-cindy]

nice shot bro, picture taken very clear.. what type of camera you are using??

[Trichopsis]

des-cindy: Those photos aren't mine! They're taken by a friend while exploring various seashores around Singapore.